Shot wife who later succumbed to injuries
Jason Cory Sanders, 43, was arrested Tuesday 12:55 a.m. on a charge of aggravated assault of a date, family, or household member with a deadly weapon that was later upgraded to capital murder when the victim died to her injuries.
Hopkins County deputies, Cumby police and criminal investigators were dispatched to a residence in reference to a female victim with a gunshot wound sustained from her husband shooting her.
Deputies arrived on scene and removed the firearm involved, securing the scene for EMS safety. Deputies made contact with Sanders inside the residence along with the victim.
Sanders was escorted from the residence and advised of his rights by Miranda warning. The Texas Rangers were called to assist with the investigation.
Sanders alleged that he had been involved in a verbal altercation with his wife inside the residence and wielded a .380 pistol in order to fire a shot to scare her.
Sanders reportedly stated that he fired a shot in which the projectile struck his wife, who was believed to be pregnant, in the torso.
Deputies continued speaking with Sanders as EMS removed the victim from the scene During the conversation, Sanders reportedly asked to use his phone in order to message his boss.
Sanders was allowed to use his cellphone, and a deputy allegedly observed Sanders deleting a message thread from Facebook Messenger. Sanders allegedly admitted to deleting the message thread between him and the victim.
The cell phone was removed from Sanders’ possession and seized as evidence due to the deputies believing that he had intentionally deleted the message thread to dispose of the evidence. A charge of tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair investigation was added.
Sanders was transported to the jail and released to jail staff for booking on the above charges.
Additional evidence was collected on scene and deputies cleared with no further contact.
According to a Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office press release, the victim died due to her injuries in the early morning hours.